Tin plate sorting machine



Aug. 23, 1932 J. c. BALLETTI TIN PLATE SORTING MACHINE Filed 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 1 LLLIP rLl J J 4 1 LLIE INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Aug. 23, 93 J. c. BALLETTI TIN PLATE SORTING MACHINE Filed 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 4 I N V EN TOR. VCBM 1 7 1932' J. c. BALLETTI TIN PLATE SORTING MACHINE- Filed 1926 s Sheets-Sheet s INQE'NTOR. y/ zz ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE".

JOHN CHARLES BALLETTI, 0F sAn rRANc'Isoo; CALIFORNIA, AssIeNoR T0 AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, or sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, a CORPORATION OF NEW' JERSEY TIN PLATE son'rme ma'omnn Application filed February 15, 1926. Serial No. 88,219.

ber of operators and requiredconsiderable.

time. maintaining the cost of examination at a very high figure. due to the human factor in the turning of the sheets for examination and the consequent slowness of the operation.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide automatic mechanism for conveyins successive sheets of tin plate before in spectors, who have at their control means for directing the course oftravel of the successive sheets after inspection, in accordance with their surface condition.

Another object is to provide an apparatus wherein thesheets as sorted or segregated are deposited at their respective stations with .t-heir imperfect surfaces correspondingly disposed in theirrespective piles, enabling perfect sheets to be expedited.

A further ohieot is to provide .in the apparatus, sheet inverting means under the control of an operator. which is adapted for operation to directa sheet from the apparatus. at the will of the operator, should he not desire to invert the same.

Another and important object is-to increase the speed of sorting tin plate over methods now employed. thereby reducing the cost of this operation. 7

While the drawings disclose one form of apparatus for accomplishing-the purpose for which the invention is designed, it is to be understood that the structure herein disclosed may be variedwithin the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings F ig. 1 is a view in top plan with a por t10n of one runway broken away and disclosing the preferred embodiment of my invention. I

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 isfla transverse; vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

F ig. at is a view partly insection and partly in end elevation,,taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a view in detail section of the operating and trip means for'the second selector, the parts being in the position illustrated by the operating handle when in full line position, F ig. 2. I

6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 with the parts in a position corresponding to the movement of the controlling handle into dotted line position, Fig. 2. r i

Fig. 7 is aview'in detail of the and selector illustrated in F igfg, theselector being in a postion .to eject the plate priorto the inverting thereof. I s i Fig. 8 is a view in top planonline 8-8 of Fig. 2, of the stack elevatingcontrolling handle. I Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the stack controlling clutch taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a view broken detail of the second selector means and itsassociated-conveying rolls, the selector being in a position to direct the rejected tin plate onto the bot tom conveyer of the apparatus.

Fig. 11 is a view in detail of theosoillating clutch member for the stack elevator.

In. the drawings, wherein corresponding feedrolls numerals designate like -parts1, indicatesa transverse frame at the feed end of the apparatus, the same being connected by an incline runway 2 with another frame 3 dis posed transversely of the incline 2 at the opposite end of the apparatus.

The frame 1 is provided with a bed 4 onto which from one end are successively fed from astack A sheets of tin 'plate 5. .Jfllhesheets and 6, of spaced intergear'ed conveying rollers between which the sheets successively pass. One group of rollers of each pair is preferassuccessively removed from the stack are propelled horizontally of bed 43 by pairs 6 ably provided with a yieldable gripping surface 7.

Channeled posts 8 extend vertically at he receiving end of the bed 4: and mount clevating screws 9, with each of which is threadedly engaged a supporting plate 10 on which plates rest the stack of tin plate A. The screws 9 at their upper ends have intergeared connection with a cross shaft 11 to rotate in timed relation, and the latter shaft carries a member 12, Figs. 9 and 11, of a dog clutch structure rotatable thereon, the shell 13 of which oscillates on the body member 12. Spring held dogs 1i control the rotation of shaft 11 by the oscillation of the shell 13, the

latter having a loose link connection 15 with one of the rollers of the pair 6.

The shaft mounting the rollers of the pair to which the link 15 is connected has intergeared connection 16' with the shaft of its cooperating rollers. the latter mounting a power wheel 17 which is rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 52, by power from any suitable source.

The clutch member 12 loosely mounted on shaft 11 is provided in its outer face with pin recesses 18 in Which are adapted to be reccived corresponding pins 19 carried by a movable clutch element 20 keyed to slide longitu'dinally on shaft 11. The element 12 is circumferentially grooved at 21 to receive the forked end of a bell crank 23 one end of which is pivotally connected at 24 with a lever 25 fulcrumed at 26, and to the handle of which is pivotally connected the upper end of an actuating bar 27 guided at 28 and extended to overlie the stack A of tin plate, Fig. 2 of the drawings. On continucdrotation, the screws 9 will gradually elevate the stackA and should the top sheet thereof be raised materially higher than the top plane of the bed 4, the lower end of rod 27 will be engaged and the lever 25 and bell crank 23 willbe moved to dotted line position, Fig. 2, disengaging pins 20 from recesses 18 and interrupting the continued elevation of the stack A until such time as the operator again moves lever 25 into full line position, Fig. 2, after sufficient top sheets have been fed from the stack A.

One of the'rollers of the pair 6 is driven by a chain connection 29 operated from the sprocket 30 on the shaft above the one mounting the drive pulley 17 i The operator as he successively feeds sheets 5 from the stack A to the bed 4. longi tudinally of which they are propelled by the pairs of rollers 6 and 6, examines the upper surface of the sheets to observe any rust or waster spots thereon. If the exposed surface of successive sheets is clean, the sheets are inverted, after being discharged from the bed 1, and are successively conveycd to the view ofa second inspector, who examines the reverse side thereof, but if the A plurality of radially curved arms 31 united by a transverse connecting bar 32 are at their lower ends fulcrumed on a shaft 33, disposed parallel with the discharge end of bed 4, at a point below the same, the shaft being fulcrumed in a bracket 35 extended fromthe mainframe 1. The upper ends of arms 31 slightly overlie the discharge end of table at and when in their raised position, Fig. 3, are limited in their upper movement by a transverse limiting bar 36. hen in their lower position, the free upper ends of the arms 31 are received in depressions 37 in the discharge end of bed i. In the former position, the arms direct the examined sheet ina curved path downwardly onto the receiving end of the runway 2, and in their latter position, direct the examined plate in a horizontal position from the bed a into the receptacle B.

The arms 31 are operated by the actuation of afoot pedal 38, fulcrumed a 39, and connected through a link 40 with an arm i1 ex,- tcnding laterally from shaft 33, the foot pedal extending within convenient reach of the sheet feeder and being norn'ially held by a springiQ, in full line position, Fig. 3, to direct the sheets from the bed 4 onto the receiving end of the incline runway 2. In proximity to the shaft 33 and rotatably mounted at their ends in brackets 35 are the intergeared shafts of a pair of conveying rollers 43, constructed similarly to the rollers 6 and 6, the rollers 43 being driven in the direction of the arrow-Fig. by a chain connection it from one of the shafts imninting one pair of rollers 6'.

The rollers d3 engage the sheets the same pass over the inner face of the arms 31 and discharge the same transversely onto the lower end of the incline runway 'This runway 2 is provided with a longitudinal slot 41 extending from its lower end to a point adjacent its upper end and in this slot operates the upper flight of an endless conveyor 45 carried by sprockets 46, the conveyor being provided with outwardly projecting angle bracket-s l7, for engaging the lowermost edge of the sheet after the same is deposited onto the runway 2 and for conveying the same upwardly of the runway for inspection by an inspector stationed at a point E along the runway 2 between the re spective end frames 1 and 3.

As the forward edge of the successive sheets approach the upper edge of the runway 2, they are engaged and pass between a pair of intergeared rotatable rollers As the sheets successively pass the inspector, Stationed at E. in their travel upwardly of the runway 2, they are examined to detect any imperfection, such as waster spots or rust which would render the sheet unfit for the purpose intended, and it the upper surface of the sheet is free of detrimental lfl'lPClfQC- tions, the same is dischargedby the rollers 48 endwise of the incline into a suitable container or member D. Shoulo any given sheet that passes the inspector at station E, contain on its upp r or exposed surface rust or waster spots or other imperfections which would render the sheet unlitfor the pur )OSQ intended, the operator prevents the s .eet from discharging into the receptacle D by operating the following desc ibed apparatus, constructed in the following manner.

A plurality of curved arms 49. similar to the arms 31 and united by a transverse member50, are positioned with their free upper ends lying between parallel spaced limiting bars 51 and 52 between which the sheets pass as con v'eyed by rollers 48. The lower ends of the bars are fulcrumedat 53 to swing as a unit, and to an arm 54 extended there from connected one end of a link 55, its opposite end being connectcd'with an arm 56 carried by a shaft 5?. The shaft is ournal-ed in a bracket and carries on its opposite end an an endless conveyor 76 similar to conveyor "arm 58 connected thr igh a link 59 with one end of a lever 60. extends beneath the lower flight-of the endless conveyor at a point r htly removed from the upper sprocket- 48. as in Fig. 2. This levertitl is mounted on an oscillating support 61 carried by a hracket 62 depending from the under side ot the runway 2 and laterally from said oscillating support extends an angularly b nt arm 63, the upper end of which is hooked at 64 to project through an elongated loop (15 in the free end of a manuall v operated lever 86 fuicruuiml at GT .and provided with a handle (58 within convenientreach of the inspector station 4 The inspector observing an in'ipcrfectii'in in the upper surface of the sheet pas ing the station E. which would render the sheet un-' desirable for the use intended, moves handle 68 against the tension of spring 69, from full to dotted line position, Fig. 2, oscillates support 61, moving the free end of lever 66 into close proximity to the lower flight of the endless conveyer 4:5. Then in this position, the free ehd of lever is engaged by angle bracket 47 of the conveyor preceding the sheet containing the imperfection. The continued movement of the conveyor 47 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, operates the lever 60 against the tension of spring and through the interconnected parts the free end of arms 49 are raised to contact withv the uppermost limiting bar 52. In this position 'ih'e's'trce end of the lever the arms 49 cause adownward curling or bending of the sheet as the same is discharged by the rollers 48, and the curvature of the arms directs the sheet between the intergcared rotatable rollers 71 onto the lower end of a runway 72. 1

At any time during the passage of the imperfect sheet beneath the free end of the curved arms 49, the inspector may release pressure on the. handle (38 and the spring 69 will restore the same to its full line position and oscillate the support 61 to disengage the free end of lever 60 from its engaged angle bracket, 47. When this takes place, spring 70 through its connection flexes arms 49 and the free ends of the same. assume their posi tion, in Fig. 2, just as soon as the rear edge of the imperfect sheet rides over the lower limiting bar 51. The intergeared rollers 71 are driven through abevel gear connection 72 oil of a shaft 73 which is anextension of a shaft of the lower roller of the pair of rollers 43 associated with frame 1. The pair of intergcared rollers 48 are in turn driven in the direction of the arrow.-Fig. 2, through an endless chain connection 74; opcratin from one of the shafts of the pair of rollers 1.

The uppermost sprocket 46 mounting the endless conveyor 45 isdriven off of the lowermost shaft of the pair of rollers 48 through an endless chain connection 75, F ig, 1.

Longitudinally of the runway 72 extends 45 and its upper flight operates in a slot 77 disposed longitudinally of the runway 72.

'Like the conveyor 45, the conveyor 76 is providcd with sheet engaging lugs 78 which are adapted to engage one edge of a sheet deposited on the runway 72 and convey the same between the curvedupwardly inclined plate guides 79 which direct the plate upwardly from the runway 72. The plate in its movement upwardly of the guides 79 is assisted in its travel, due to its engagement by the pairs of conveying rollers 80 and 81 between which it passes prior to being discharged into a receptacle or container C. The intergeared pairs of conveying rollers 80 and 81' are driven from shaft 73 through chainv connections 82 and 83 and from one shaft of the pair of rollers 80 a chain connection 84 operates one. of the sprockets 85 of the pair mounting the endless conveyor 76.

By the employment of the present appara tus the sheets or plates deposited in receptacle B are known to each contain an impen fection in its upper surface, and may have an imperfection .in its lower surface, and are positioned with such known imperfected surfaces upwardly disposed, enabling'this stack of sheets to be readily examined to determine the condition of the undersurface by inverting the stack and successively moving the sheets therefrom. The sheets or plates in receptacle C are each known to have one'good posite surfaces surface and that is positioned upwardly in the stack, rendering the non-blemished portions of these sheets readily usable after the stack is reversed, so that they appear up- Wards.

By this apparatus, the sorting' and examining of tin plate isexpedited; labor cost is reduced, and the discarded or imperfect sheets are handled in such manner that they may be more fully examined and the good arts used with the expenditure of but a small handling cost.

I claim 1. A plate sorting apparatus comprising plate conveying means, guiding means for directing the plate in a curved path as conveyed thereby through the apparatus to present opfor examination, said guiding means being adapted for operation for directing the plate from the apparatus prior to the inverting thereof.

- 2. A plate sorting apparatus comprising plate conveying means, guiding means for directing the plate in a curved path as conveyed thereby through the apparatus to present opposite surfaces for examination and means for operating said guiding means for positioning the same to direct the plate from the apparatus prior to the inverting thereof.

3. A plate sorting apparatus including means for receiving and conveying a plate with one side exposed for examination, a second conveying means for receiving the plate from the first means and for conveying thesame with its other slde exposed for examination, a curved guide connecting the first named means to the second named means for inverting the plate as conveyed from the first to the second conveying means, and means for operating said guide means for directing the plate from the apparatus prior to the inverting thereof.

4. A plate sorting apparatus including means for receiving and conveying a plate with one side exposed for examination, a second conveying means for receiving the plate from the first means and for conveying the same with its other side exposed for examination, means for inverting the plate as conveyed from the first to the second conveying means, means for operating said inverting means for directing the plate from the apparatus prior to the inverting thereof, and means for directing the plate from the apparatus into one of either of a plurality of stations after inverting and as conveyed-by I the second conveying means.

the plate in its passage from the first to the second receiving and conveying means or for directing the plate from the first receiving and conveying means with its examined side uppermost.

6. A plate sorting apparatus including means for receiving and conveying a plate with one side exposed for examination, a second means for receiving the plate from the first means and for conveying the same with its other side exposed for examination, means interposed between said first and second plate receiving and conveying means for guiding and inverting the plate in its movement from one to the other, and means under the control of the operator for discharging the plate from the last conveying means into one of either of two directions.

7. A plate sorting apparatus including a plate conveying means by which a plate is conveyed with its surfaces alternately exposed for examination, a curved guide for inverting the plate while being conveyed, and independent selectively controlled means in advance and in rear of said inverting means for directing the plate from the plate conveying means either before or after the same has been inverted.

8. A plate sorting apparatus including a plate conveying means by which a plate is conveyed with its surfaces alternately exposed for examination, means for inverting the plate while being conveyed, and means for directing the ,plate from the conveying means at one of -a.plurality of points within its length.

9-. A plate sorting apparatus including a plate conveying means by which a plate is conveyed with its surfaces alternately exposed for examination, a curved guide for inverting the plate while being conveyed, and means for directing the plate from the plate conveying means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN CHARLES BALLETTI.

5. A plate sorting apparatus including a plate conveying means by which a plate is conveyed with one side exposed for examination, a second plate conveying means for receiving and conveying a plate from the first conveying'means, and a curved guide interposed between said receiving and conveying means and operable to cause the inverting of 

